Tiger Woods: 'Winning is an evolution,' says golfer

By Rob Hodgetts, CNN

Updated 1307 GMT (2107 HKT) November 30, 2016

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Golf legend Tiger Woods was arrested Monday, May 29, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into a local jail in Florida and released a few hours later. Woods has changed the face of golf since his breakthrough Masters win in 1997, but injuries and off-course problems have blighted the latter years of his career.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods set out on his legendary path by becoming the youngest winner of the Masters -- at 21 -- with a record 12-shot win in 1997.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

One of his most remarkable feats was winning his first US Open by an unprecedented 15 shots at Pebble Beach, California, in 2000, sparking a streak never seen before or since.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods' victory in the 2001 Masters meant he held all four of golf's major titles at the same time, dubbed the "Tiger Slam."

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods' win rate, his dedication to fitness training and his desire to succeed were changing golf. Prize money rocketed because of Woods. Off the course, he married girlfriend Elin Nordegren in 2004.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods showed rare emotion when he broke down in tears on the shoulder of caddie Steve Williams following his win in the 2006 British Open at Hoylake, months after his father and mentor Earl passed away.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Despite being visibly hampered and in pain from a knee injury, Woods won the US Open in breathtaking fashion at Torrey Pines, California, in 2008. It was his 14th major title to leave him only four behind the record of Jack Nicklaus. He was later diagnosed with knee ligament damage and two fractures of his left tibia. He missed the rest of the season after surgery. It is still his last major title.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

In December 2009, Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his home. As the big picture emerged it was discovered Woods had been conducting a series of extra martial affairs. He took three months away from the game to sort out his private life.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

In February 2010 Woods addressed the world's media to explain and apologise for his actions. His infidelity led to divorce and was the beginning of a downhill slide in Woods' playing career. By October he lost the world No. 1 ranking, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks

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Back in the fold, Woods earned his first win in two years at the Chevron World Challenge in December 2011, a charity tournament he hosts that does not count on the PGA Tour money list.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods was back in the winner's circle in 2013, lifting five titles, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, to get back to the top of the rankings.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced they were dating on Facebook. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Later in 2013 there were signs all was not well as Woods was seen to be in pain as he picked the ball out of the hole at the Barclays tournament in August. His missed the Masters the following April for the first time since 1994 to undergo back surgery.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open in February 2015, and struggled with injury and form for the rest of the season.

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Woods cut a dejected figure at that year's US Open as he struggled with his game and carded rounds of 80 and 76 to miss the cut.

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In August 2015 Woods made his last appearance for 15 months to undergo follow-up back surgeries. At one stage during his rehabilitation, Woods spoke of there being "no light at the end of the tunnel" -- and with one eye on his fading career, he suggested "everything beyond this will be gravy."

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Woods made a much-anticipated return to golf in December 2016, showing signs of promise with the highest number of birdies in the field -- 24 -- but he also made a number of costly errors to finish third from last in the 18-man event.

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Photos:Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

He missed the cut in his first event of 2017 in the US and pulled out after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, citing back spasms. He underwent a fourth back prodecure in April, releasing a statement recently saying he had "never felt better." On May 29 Woods was arrested on a DUI charge in Florida, but insisted in a statement he had "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications."

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Story highlights

Tiger Woods to return at Hero World Challenge

Not played since August 2015

Now ranked 898 in world

Won last of 14 majors in 2008

(CNN)A year ago he couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but now Tiger Woods is back and desperate to show his competitive fire remains undimmed.

The former world No. 1 will tee off in his foundation's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas Thursday after 15 months away from the game following multiple back surgeries.

"Winning is an evolution," he said. "It's going from at home on the range, then going out on my home course, then going into tournament setting, then on the back nine of an event trying to win and then ultimately it's the back nine of a major, which is a totally different animal.

"Right now I haven't competed yet so I'm at the beginning stages of that."

'Patience'

At the news conference before last year's event, tournament host Woods cut a dejected figure as he explained how in his darkest moments he couldn't get out of bed because of his back, let alone contemplate playing golf.

"I think pretty much everything beyond this will be gravy," he said of his 14 major titles and 79 PGA Tour wins.

But now Woods, who called off a planned return at the Safeway Open in October, saying his game was still "vulnerable", believes he is ready to play and, more importantly, compete -- a "different reality," as he puts it.

"It's a lot better situation this year than last," he told reporters.

"To get back here to this level has been a challenge, a lot of hard work and an inordinate amount of patience, which is not one of my hallmarks."

'Nerves'

Woods has spent his time off consolidating his business interests for "phase two of his life," and "cherishing" time with his kids, as well as getting back to full fitness and developing a swing that will accommodate his physical state. The one thing he hasn't changed, he says, is his mindset.

"I'm going to be focused, do what I can do, put the ball in the correct spots, try to bury these putts and posts scores and get myself in that mix come Sunday afternoon," he said.

"I know that's a tall order since I've been away from the game for so long and I've made a lot of different changes in my game, but the mindset is still the same. I'm going out to try to beat these guys."

"There was a lot of trepidation. At times I did think about it, it was realistic. When I had my knee redone and it was completely blown, I knew it was nine months [out] but I knew I could come back from it. When you're dealing with a spine and dealing with nerves it's a completely different deal."

Tiger Woods was a non-playing assistant to captain Davis Love at the Ryder Cup in September.

Woods' oft-stated career goal is to beat Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles, a target that appeared to be out of his grasp this time last year.